Now its your turn.
p. Women across West Virginia, more often than not, dont finish college, as increasing demands of motherhood and work ultimately win out over the pursuit of a degree.

The Mountain State, in fact, is last in the nation among population percentages of women with four or more years of college. Thats according to numbers culled three years ago by the national Institute for Womens Policy Research in itsStatus of Women in West Virginiareport, and those are numbers West Virginia University wants to turn around.

A trip to Morgantown Mall on Saturday, March 10, just might be the first step.

The sixth annualMoms Turn to Learnevent will be hosted from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. that day near the mall food court by the WVU Council for Womens Concerns, the Presidents Office for Social Justice and Center for Womens Studies.

There, women will have the chance to meet with WVU financial and academic advisors while learning about the Universitys full range of degree offerings, including its Regents Bachelor of Arts Program for students returning to school later in life.

Theyll hear from other women who done just thatand theyll talk with other representatives from theWest Virginia Women Workorganization, Fairmont State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Salem International University.

Information on financial assistance and award opportunities from the Soropotimist International and Philanthropic Educational Opportunities organization will also be offered up for the day.

Event organizer Martha Thorn calls it theInformation-equals-Empowermentformula.

I think you make all the difference in the world by just being there to answer questions,said Thorn, a retired WVU coach and businesswoman.Well be talking about financial aid and scholarships, and child development and family support services once we get you in the classroom. �€~Take control and enroll,is our catch-phrase. Were here to help.

For more information, visit the Council for Womens Concerns Web site atwww.as.wvu.edu/cwc. The e-mail address is cwc@mail.wvu.edu . TheStatus of Women in West Virginiareport may be seen online at the Institute for Womens Policy Research Web site:www.iwpr.org.

Moms Turn to Learnalso receives financial support from the Alma and Claude Rowe Fund for Excellence through Equity, which is administered by the WVU Foundation Inc.